Camden Schmidt

OASE intern at VIVID Stabilized Woods

  • Industry: Wood products manufacturing
  • Project Type: Sustainability Standard Operating Procedure development
  • Location: Gaston, OR
  • Major/University: Environmental Economics and Policy, Oregon State University
     

Project Summary

Camden Schmidt interned at VIVID Stabilized Woods to research strategies for integrating sustainability-oriented decision making into the company and their practices. VIVID manufactures woodblocks for artisanal turning into products including knife scales, jewelry, pens, and duck calls.

Potential Impacts and Annual Reductions

 

Camden recommended five strategies to prevent pollution and meet their sustainability goals.

  • Opt into wind power to prevent 1.319 metric tons of CO2 from being produced annually.
  • Perform routine energy efficiency checks on equipment to help reduce costs and CO2 emissions.
  • Divert waste to landfills to prevent a potential spread of 1,900 lbs of microplastics and 2.2 metric tons of CO2 annually. 
  • Use circular production methods and products to eliminate wastes such as resin.

  

1,900 lbs

Solid Waste Prevented

$350

Cost Savings

3.5 Metric Tons of CO2

Emissions Reduced

Background

VIVID was founded in 2010 by Sue Curington and Les Dougherty in rural Oregon. They manufacture woodblocks for artisanal turning into products, including knife scales, jewelry, pens, and duck calls. The wood has been ‘stabilized’ in a process that yields dyed wood blocks resistant to cracking and shrinking. If the wood has a raw or live edge, brightly colored resins are added to create a mixed-media product. VIVID has four employees and is committed to continuous improvement and pollution prevention.

 

Project Details

Camden’s work provided VIVID with several opportunities to begin its sustainability journey. By suggesting that the company perform routine energy efficiency checks, Camden helped the company to create sustainable practices early on that will help the company to reduce energy use in the future. Opting into renewable energy provides an easy way for VIVID to perform more sustainably without having to revamp its entire production process. Camden also helped plant the seed of moving towards a production process that aligns with Zero Waste objectives. By using the byproducts of their current process to make new products, the company would be able to reduce wasted energy and materials as well as increase their sellable assets.